SULTAN MASTURA, Maguindanao - Five schools in Sultan Mastura town in Maguindanao were hit by explosions past midnight Wednesday.

Authorities said explosions were heard at Dagurungan Elementary School in Barangay Dagurungan, Tuka Elementary School in Barangay Tuka, Darping Elementary School in Barangay Macabiso, Tariken Elementary School, particularly the Day Care in Barangay Tariken, and Simuay Seashore in Barangay Simuay.

The incident inflicted damage on all the schools except at Darping Elementary School in Barangay Macabiso.

One school in Barangay Tapayan was allegedly bombed, but the report was later proven false.

One of the schools badly affected by the explosions is the Simuay Seashore Elementary School. The computer room of the oldest school in the province was damaged and eight computers were destroyed.

The grenade also left a crater on the floor.

The principal believes the grenade was dropped by the suspects through the window.

Authorities were able to recover metallic fragments, disintegrated blue plastic container, two grenade safety levers, eight pieces of empty shells of 7.62MM and one empty shell of 5.56MM from different areas of explosion.

The mentioned schools are identified polling centers in the upcoming elections.

Police Inspector Winderlyn Banico, Sultan Mastura Chief of Police, said they could not yet categorize the explosions as election related.

However, they are eyeing the possibility that the series of explosions are meant to create fear among the voting public.

Some of the teachers who will serve as board of election inspectors in the town have said they are afraid to serve in the upcoming elections. A principal of one of the schools affected by the explosions said the teachers do not want to serve as BEIs because of fear for their security.

They will also submit a letter of request to the Commission on Elections for immediate replacement of other teachers or for police personnel to serve as BEIs.

The series of explosions happened less than two weeks before elections.

In Sultan Mastura, four are vying for the Mayoralty and vice mayoralty seats.

There are 12,899 registered voters in the municipality.